Display device



June 24, 1947. w. TINGDALE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 24, 1947. I

W. TlN GDALE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. '7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zkzyaa W Patented June 24, 1947 Warren Tingdale, Chicago, Ill., assignor to National Transitads Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application February '7, 1944, Serial No. 521,379

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a display device and more particularly to a display device adapted for use in retail stores, for example grocery stores, to be employed in combinationwith car card advertisements. g a

The usual car card which is approximately H inches wide and from 14 to 28 inches long, is a familiar and extremely valuable medium of advertising. Because of extensive familiarity of cards of this type, a consumer demand for products so advertised has been built up and for a long time advertisers have sought to provide adequate means in the individual retail outlets for the use of identifying media which would correlate the particular stock in trade with the car advertising.

The present display device provides a suitable and convenient means for establishing such correlation.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display device; Figure 2 is a front view of the card unit; Figure 3 is a side view of the card unit together with a mounting device; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the display device; Figure 5 is a corresponding view of a modified form of the device; Figure 6 is a modified form of car card unit; and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through Figure 6 to which has been added a modified form of mounting device.

As shown in the drawings, the device comprises a display counter having side walls II, a bot tom I 2, a top I3, and a display front M. On the top of the counter is a displa rack l5 having an ornamental front I6 and a curved back H. The front is preferably trimmed with Lucite panels l8 slightly overlapping the framework and behind which, at suitable intervals, are lights I9 suitably connected to an electric line. The Lucite panels are so formed as to discharge their light at the inner edges so as to diffuse it upon the advertising matter on the back. Stronger lights 20 may of course be added at the base with reflectors 2| where necessary or desirable.

The curved back is provided with a bottom groove 22 and a top groove 23v within which the card unit 25 bearing the cards 26 is held by the resilient metal strips 21. The card unit is preferably made of sheet metal having considerable resilience and inturned at its edges to provide the slot 28 and 29 which act as retainers for the cards.

It is preferred that the cards be mounted outside of the store on a card unit so that the installations may be properly cared for, cleaned or 2 altered from time to time. The counter in in many cases is of considerable height so that it would be necessary to use a step ladder to reach it. Inasmuch as the rack may be from 10 to 15 feet in length, this would mean placing the ladder in several different positions and interfering with business in the store during all of this time. By providing an integral card unit with the cards already mounted in position therein, it is possible to install the cards with only one setting of a ladder and with great speed. However, with the particular device here shown, it is possible to dispense entirely with the ladder and to mount the cards as a unit. Thi is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As there shown the card unit is provided with a central bracing strip 30 at the top and a corresponding strip 3! at the bottom. In this strip are provided lugs 32 having a neck 33 and a head 34. These lugs are designated to cooperate with the mounting device 35. This device is of any suitable form and comprises at least two grippers 36 comprising fingers having between them the slot 38. The fingers are mounted upon the arms 39 and 40 which are pivotally connected at 4! and extend to the handle 42 and 43.. In mounting the card unit the cards are inserted in the unit and fixed in place and then the respective gripper heads are brought into engagement with the lugs 32 and the card unit compressed to lessen its diameter sufiiciently to be inserted within the rack. It is preferred that the ends of the rack be open so that even though the card unit be inserted through the open face, there is some leeway for manipulation in a horizontal direction. The unit is then inserted within the slots 22 and 23 of the back [1 and tension released to permit the unit to expand therein. The groove 22 may be made shallower and wider than the groove 23 since the card unit is held therein by its natural resiliency.

An additional decorative structure #5 is provided above the rack where desired.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a modified form of rack in which the rack projects forwardly of the display counter. This form is particularly suitable where the display counter 16 extends rather close to the ceiling, or where, for any other reason, it is undesirable to set the card unit back further than shown in Figure 5.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of card unit in which openings are provided in each of the reinforcing strips 5|. In this form of unit the mounting device is modified so that the head 36 is provided with lugs 52 which fit within the openings 50. Thisform of device is preferable in many instances because it permits the card units to be stacked during transportation. It also provides positive means for moving the unit in any direction, and when it is employed it is not always necessary to flex the structure in order to insert it. All that is necessary is that there be sufiicient distance between the openings 58 and the edge of the card unit so that the upper portion may be slid behind a retaining edge while the bottom portion is moved into a groove, and that on dropping of the unit into the groove the upper edge is still in contact with the retaining wall.

It is of course to be borne in mind that the card units may not be perfectly straight from end to end because of distortion or twisting during use. The use of the precurved resilient or spring metal web is an advantage in keeping them in shape but even when this is done it is desirable that the retaining slots 22 and 23 be sufliciently broad as to overcome deviations. Of course with particularly long card units the mounting structure on the flanges may have to be duplicated. In such event, of course, one or more sets of gripper openings or lugs will be provided on each side of the center of the unit.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a, display device, a display counter having a display front, an advertising rack on the top of the counter comprising a horizontally elongated open frame having a transversely curved 4 back with the top edge of the back affixed to the top edge of the frame and the bottom edge of the back located substantially rearwardly of the bottom edge of the frame, a horizontal mounting groove at the top edge of the back, a second horizontal mounting groove at the bottom edge of the back substantially shallower and wider than the top groove, a card unit mounted in said grooves comprising a resilient metal web having integral flanges extending along the sides of the web and forming a car card mounting means, and interlock means provided substantially in the center of said flanges for cooperation with a mounting means for drawing the edges of the web together.

2. A display device as set forth in claim 1, in which the front open portion of the frame is made of Lucite and lights are provided adjacent and behind said Lucite panels.

WARREN TINGDALE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 294,937 Towle Mar. 11, 1884 1,487,606 Robeson Mar. 18, 1924 1,844,692 Schnoor Feb. 9, 1932 278,192 Stanwood May 22, 1883 502,947 Bond Aug. 8, 1893 533,335 Ackley Jan. 29, 1895 1,733,890 Leal Oct. 29, 1929 2,293,642 Donaldson Aug. 18, 1942 

